Sun Liang (243According to Sun Liang's biography in Sanguozhi, he was 16 (by East Asian reckoning) when he was demoted to Prince of Kuaiji in Nov 258. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 243. Vol.03 of Jiankang Shilu indicated that Sun Liang was born in the 7th year of the Chi'wu era, which corresponds to 244 in the Julian calendar. – 260), courtesy name Ziming, was the second emperor of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the youngest son and heir of Sun Quan, the founding emperor of Wu. He is also known as the Prince of Kuaiji or (less frequently) Marquis of Houguan (候官侯), which were his successive titles after he was deposed in November 258 by the regent Sun Chen and is sometimes known as the Young Emperor. Hua He's memorial in Sanguozhi vol.53. He was succeeded by his brother Sun Xiu, who managed to oust Sun Chen from power and kill him. Two years after Sun Liang's dethronement, he was falsely accused of treason and demoted from a prince to a marquis, after which he killed himself.
In 252, Sun Liang lost both his parents in rapid succession. Early that year, Empress Pan was murdered and in the winter Sun Quan died, so Sun Liang became the new emperor.權不豫,夫人使問中書令孫弘呂后專制故事。侍疾疲勞,因以羸疾,諸宮人伺其昏臥,共縊殺之,託言中惡。後事泄,坐死者六七人。權尋薨,合葬蔣陵。 Sanguozhi vol.50.夏四月,權薨,時年七十一,謚曰 大皇帝 Sanguozhi vol. 47.
In 256, Sun Jun, at Wen Qin's urging, was planning an attack against Cao Wei, when he suddenly fell mortally ill, and he commissioned his cousin Sun Chen to succeed him as regent.
In 257, at the age of 14, Sun Liang began to personally handle some important matters of state.夏四月,亮臨正殿,大赦,始親政事 Sanguozhi vol.48. He established a personal guard corps that he trained with every day, consisting of 3,000 young relatives of soldiers between 15 and 18 led by brave relatives of officers, stating that he intended to grow up with them.綝所表奏,多見難問,又科兵子弟年十八已下十五已上,得三千餘人,選大將子弟年少有勇力者為之將帥。亮曰:「吾立此軍,欲與之俱長。」日於苑中習焉。 Sanguozhi vol.48. Sun Chen began to be somewhat apprehensive of the young emperor who was asking awkward questions, with Sun Liang showing signs of discontent at simply being required to rubber stamp rather than rule as his father had.綝以孫亮始親政事,多所難問,甚懼 Sanguozhi vol.64.吳歷曰:亮數出中書視孫權舊事,問左右侍臣: 先帝數有特制,今大將軍問事,但令我書可邪! Wuli in Sanguozhi vol.48.
There was a problem with his cousin Sun Ji, son of Sun Ba, who served in the palace and was arrested for stealing a horse. Sun Liang asked Diao Xuan what the punishment for this was, he was informed it was death but Diao Xuan thought given Sun Ba had been executed while young, Sun Liang might show pity. Sun Liang wanted to spare Sun Ji but did not wish to undermine the law by favouring a relative and gratefully seized upon Diao Xuan's suggestion of an amnesty for those in the palace.霸二子,基、壹。五鳳中,封基為吳侯,壹宛陵侯。基侍孫亮在內,太平二年,盜乘御馬,收付獄。亮問侍中刁玄曰:「盜乘御馬罪云何?」玄對曰:「科應死。然魯王早終,惟陛下哀原之。」亮曰:「法者,天下所共,何得阿以親親故邪?當思惟可以釋此者,柰何以情相迫乎?」玄曰:「舊赦有大小,或天下,亦有千里、五百里赦,隨意所及。」亮曰:「解人不當爾邪!」乃赦宮中,基以得免。 Sanguozhi vol.59.
Two sources tell a tale of Sun Liang's intelligence at that age. In the Wuli, by contemporary Hu Chong who served Wu and had access to the imperial archives, tells of Sun Liang asking for honey to go with his plums but when it was brought to him, there were rat droppings in it. Sun Liang interrogated the eunuch assigned to bring the honey and the official in charge of managing the storehouse, both denied responsibility. Rather than have them both arrested and a full investigation start, the young Emperor broke open the droppings and, on seeing they were dry inside, knew they had only recently been added, and it was the eunuch to blame.亮後出西苑,方食生梅,使黃門至中藏取蜜漬梅,蜜中有鼠矢,召問藏吏,藏吏叩頭。亮問吏曰:「黃門從汝求蜜邪?」吏曰:「向求,實不敢與。」黃門不服,侍中刁玄、張邠啟:「黃門、藏吏辭語不同,請付獄推盡。」亮曰:「此易知耳。」令破鼠矢,矢裏燥。亮大笑謂玄、邠曰:「若矢先在蜜中,中外當俱溼,今外溼裏燥,必是黃門所為。」黃門首服,左右莫不驚悚。 Wuli in Sanguozhi vol.48. Liu Song historian Pei Songzhi notes that had the eunuch added feces to the honey then it would have got wet anyway so the story isn't realistic but to display Sun Liang's intelligence.臣松之以為鼠矢新者,亦表裏皆溼。黃門取新矢則無以得其姦也,緣遇燥矢,故成亮之慧。然猶謂《吳曆》此言,不如《江表傳》為實也 Pei Songzhi on Sanguozhi vol.48. The alternative account is the Jiangbiao zhuan by Jin official Yu Pu, who collected tales in the area after Wu's fall, which tells of Sun Liang sending the eunuch to collect sugarcane that had been sent from Jiaozhi (modern day Vietnam) from the storehouse. An expensive process of refinement for sugar at the time and quite rare. Given the eunuch had been sent with a silver bowl and a lid, the Emperor was surprised to discover rat droppings when it was presented with the eunuch accusing the official of being negligent. Sun Liang summoned the storehouse official and asked if the eunuch had a grudge, on turning out the official had rejected a past request from the eunuch, Sun Liang's suspicions about the eunuch were confirmed. The eunuch was whipped and sent for punishment.江表傳 曰:亮使黃門以銀碗并蓋就中藏吏取交州所獻甘蔗餳。黃門先恨藏吏,以鼠矢投餳中,啟言藏吏不謹。亮呼吏持餳器入,問曰:「此器旣蓋之,且有掩覆,無緣有此,黃門將有恨於汝邪?」吏叩頭曰:「嘗從某求宮中莞席,宮席有數,不敢與。」亮曰:「必是此也。」覆問黃門,具首伏。即於目前加髠鞭,斥付外署。 Jiangbao Zhuan in Sanguozhi vol.48.
Sun Chen became unpopular due to the defeat綝旣不能拔出誕,而喪敗士衆,自戮名將,莫不怨之 Sanguozhi vol.64. and was concerned by Sun Liang's asking of difficult questions in the last year so he chose not to return to Jiankang on grounds of illness but instead sent his younger brothers to entrench military authority at the capital.綝以孫亮始親政事,多所難問,甚懼。還建業,稱疾不朝,築室於朱雀橋南,使弟威遠將軍據入蒼龍宿衞,弟武衞將軍恩、偏將軍幹、長水校尉闓分屯諸營,欲以專朝自固。亮內嫌綝,乃推魯育見殺本末,責怒虎林督朱熊、熊弟外部督朱損不匡正孫峻,乃令丁奉殺熊於虎林,殺損於建業。 Sanguozhi vol.64. Sun Liang was not happy with his overpowerful minister's handling of the campaign, disrespectful attitude, refusing to follow orders or answer summons.《江表傳》曰:亮召全尚息黃門侍郎紀密謀,曰 「孫綝專勢,輕小於孤。孤見勑之,使速上岸,為唐咨等作援,而留湖中,不上岸一步。又委罪朱異,擅殺功臣,不先表聞。築第橋南,不復朝見。此為自在,無復所畏,不可久忍。 Jiangbiaozhuan in Sanguozhi vol.64. A further cause of friction occurred when he became investigating his aunt Sun Luyu's death. Sun Luban, despite her role in the death of her sister, declared no knowledge and shifted blame onto Sun Luyu's sons Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun. Sun Chen tried to intervene as Zhu Sun was married to his younger sister but Sun Liang ordered Ding Feng to kill them both.亮內嫌綝,乃推魯育見殺本末,責怒虎林督朱熊、熊弟外部督朱損不匡正孫峻,乃令丁奉殺熊於虎林,殺損於建業。綝入諫不從,亮遂與公主魯班、太常全尚、將軍劉承議誅綝 Sanguozhi vol.64.
Sun Liang plotted with his sister Sun Luban, the general Liu Cheng (劉丞), his father-in-law Quan Shang (全尚), and his brother-in-law Quan Ji (全紀), to have Sun Chen overthrown.綝入諫不從,亮遂與公主魯班、太常全尚、將軍劉承議誅綝 Sanguozhi vol.64. The Emperor told Quan Ji to have Quan Shang gather the Quan family's personal troops while Sun Liang would lead the palace guard, taking Sun Chen by surprise and surrounding them then using Sun Liang's authority to persuade Sun Chen's subordinates to submit without a fight. However, he warned that neither Quan Ji nor Quan Shang should not speak about the plan to Shang's wife as Sun Liang felt such matters were inappropriate for women and noted she was Sun Chen's cousin.今規取之,卿父作中軍都督,使密嚴整士馬,孤當自出臨橋,帥宿衞虎騎、左右無難一時圍之。作版詔勑綝所領皆解散,不得舉手。正爾,自得之。
卿去,但當使密耳。卿宣詔語卿父,勿令卿母知之,女人旣不曉大事,且綝同堂姊,邂逅泄漏,誤孤非小也 Jiangbaozhuan in Sanguozhi vol.64.
During the evening of 9 November 258,Volume 77 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Sun Chen killed Liu Cheng on the wuwu day of the 9th month of the 3rd year of the Ganlu era of Cao Mao's reign. This corresponds to 9 Nov 258 on the Julian calendar. (甘露三年)九月,戊午,𬘭夜以兵袭尚,执之,遣弟恩杀刘承于苍龙门外... Zizhi Tongjian, vol.77 Sun Chen moved quickly, his men captured Quan Shang and killed Liu Cheng and by daybreak, the regent had the palace surrounded.亮妃,綝從姊女也,以其謀告綝。綝率衆夜襲全尚,遣弟恩殺劉承於蒼龍門外,遂圍宮。 Sanguozhi vol.64. Sun Liang wanted to fight, mounting his horse and drawing his bow, declaring as the son of Sun Quan who had ruled for five years, nobody would disobey him. However his wet-nurses and eunuchs managed to stop the young ruler from charging out and over the next two days he refused to eat.綝夜發嚴兵廢亮,比明,兵已圍宮。亮大怒,上馬,帶鞬執弓欲出,曰:「孤大皇帝之適子,在位已五年,誰敢不從者?」侍中近臣及乳母共牽攀止之,乃不得出,歎咤二日不食 Jiangbao zhuan in Sanguozhi vol.64. The young Emperor let it be known to his wife and to Quan Ji his displeasure with how Quan Shang had failed him, Quan Ji would take his own life.罵其妻曰:「爾父憒憒,敗我大事!」又呼紀,紀曰:「臣父奉詔不謹,負上,無面目復見。」因自殺。 Jiangbao zhuan in Sanguozhi vol.64.
Sun Chen arranged a meeting with the high officials, declaring Sun Liang to be unintelligent and of poor moral character so he needed to be deposed, threatening the officials so only one man objected (and was promptly killed).使光祿勳孟宗告廟廢亮,召羣司議曰:「少帝荒病昏亂,不可以處大位,承宗廟,以告先帝廢之。諸君若有不同者,下異議。」皆震怖,曰:「唯將軍令。」綝遣中書郎李崇奪亮璽綬,以亮罪狀班告遠近。尚書桓彝不肯署名,綝怒殺之。 Sanguozhi vol.64. In justifying his actions to Sun Xiu, Liang's elder brother and Chen's chosen candidate to replace Sun Liang, Sun Chen accused Sun Liang of extravagance in building works and creating over three hundred small boats of silver and gold. Of seizing women for his harem and men for his guard core who became unruly with armaments destroyed, creating fear by such actions and the inappropriate killing of the Zhu brothers. He also accused Sun Liang of ignoring warnings that Quan Shang was in the service of the rival Cao Wei dynasty.綝以薄才,見授大任,不能輔導陛下。
頃月以來,多所造立,親近劉承,悅於美色;發吏民婦女,料其好者,留於宮內,取兵子弟十八已下三千餘人,習之苑中,連日續夜,大小呼嗟,敗壞藏中矛戟五千餘枚,以作戲具。
朱據先帝舊臣,子男熊、損皆承父之基,以忠義自立,昔殺小主,自是大主所創,帝不復精其本末,便殺熊、損,諫不見用,諸下莫不側息。
帝於宮中作小船三百餘艘,成以金銀,師工晝夜不息。
太常全尚,累世受恩,不能督諸宗親,而全端等委城就魏。尚位過重,曾無一言以諫陛下,而與敵往來,使傳國消息,懼必傾危社稷。
推案舊典,運集大王,輒以今月二十七日擒尚斬承。 Sanguozhi vol.64.
Chen Shou, the author of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, noted Sun Liang had just been a young boy and blamed the poor quality of regents that led to Sun Liang's inevitable fate(孫亮童孺而無賢輔,其替位不終,必然之勢也。) Sanguozhi vol.48. Pei Songzhi suggested Sun Liang taking control as one of the potential key points that might have saved the dynasty as being a viable route in preventing the last Wu Emperor Sun Hao from taking the throne,(設使亮保國祚,休不早死,則皓不得立。皓不得立,則吳不亡矣。) Pei Songzhi's commentary in Sanguozhi vol.47. noted stories were made about Sun Liang's cleverness while Sun Sheng ruled out one version of why Sun Liang's plot leaked out due to Sun Liang's reputation for being intelligent.
There was said to be a letter by Sun Liang to Buddhist monks, expressing regret at the death of a major translator of Buddhist texts Zhi Qian, but the authenticity of the letter has been questioned.
The 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms mostly follows the historical texts when it does cover the young Emperor. However, during Zhuge Ke's fall, Sun Liang personally visits the regent who claims to be ill and tells the plotters against Zhuge Ke that he fears Zhuge Ke and wishes him removed. He gives Sun Jun exceptional authority and only becomes concerned during Sun Chen's time. For the tale of intelligence, it follows the main records rather than Yu Pu's account. Following his removal from the throne, he gets a poem bemoaning the unjust removal of a wise lord while the editor Mao Zonggang notes the parallel of Sun Liang's fall due to the in-laws with Han dynasty Emperor Xian's failed Girdle Decree plot against his controller Cao Cao.
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